After a rough and delayed planting season, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) is sharing some good news for Illinois’ agriculture industry.
On September 24, Sen. Fowler joined representatives from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the Illinois Soy Bean Association, the Taiwan Feed Industry Association and the Governor for the signing of letters of intent to purchase $2.2 billion in Illinois corn and soybeans over the next two years.
Taiwan, currently Illinois’ third largest trading partner of agricultural products, committed to purchase 197 million bushels of corn and up to 97 million bushels of soybeans produced by Illinois’ farmers.
According to the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois is the number one soybean producing state and produced approximately 611.9 million bushels in 2017. Meanwhile, Illinois ranks second in the country in corn production.
Also pertaining to Illinois’ farmers, harvest season is officially underway and motorists should expect an uptake of agricultural equipment on the roadways. Sen. Fowler is reminding drivers to be extra cautious while traveling.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 26 percent of Illinois corn is now considered mature. Meanwhile, soybean coloring is at 53 percent, which means heavy farm equipment traffic is expected to increase on roadways.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, transportation incidents were the leading cause of death for farmers and farm workers in 2016. Motorists are encouraged to slow down and be aware of farmers on the roadways.
To help keep harvest season safe for everyone, motorists can follow these simple safety steps.
Find the lights on farm vehicles. Farm vehicles are required to have amber and red rear lights. The amber lights should be visible to the front and rear. They should flash as a warning to other motorists.
Slow down as soon as you see a farm vehicle. Most farm equipment only travels 15 to 20 miles per hour, so it is crucial to slow down before it is too late.
Be cognizant of the time of year. Harvest season typically runs from September through November. Drivers should expect to see farm vehicles on the road during this time.
In other news, Sen. Fowler attended the ribbon cutting for the new Rides Mass Transit Center in Marion. The new center will serve riders traveling through the Route 13 corridor, features six different bus slips and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
Also happening this week, Sen. Fowler joined with colleague State Senator Neil Anderson and other elected officials to tour the Prairie State Generating Company in Marissa on Sept. 25. Prairie State is one of the largest power plant construction projects in the nation, with approximately 600 full-time employees.
State News:
Rail Safety Week Underway
Raising awareness about the importance of rail safety throughout the state, September 22 through the 28 has been designated Illinois Rail Safety Week.
Illinois has the second largest rail system of any state in the nation, with more than 7,400 miles of railroad track. According to the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois has historically ranked high in rail-related tragedies. In 2018, Illinois ranked third in the nation in grade crossing fatalities and fifth in the nation in trespass fatalities.
Follow these ten tips to promote rail safety and prevent tragedies:
Walking or playing on train tracks is dangerous and illegal.
Be prepared to stop at crossings.
Cross train tracks at designated highway/railroad crossings.
Look for the crossbuck sign, lights or gates at crossings.
Listen for warning bells and whistles.
Obey the signals.
If one train passes, make sure a second train is not approaching on another track in the same or opposite direction.
Obey the instructions of a police officer or member of a train crew directing traffic at a crossing.
Cross the tracks in low gear; do not change gears while crossing.
If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out quickly, and move away from the vehicle and tracks; call the emergency number posted at or near the crossing and call 911.
If you would like more information about Illinois Rail Safety Week, please visit www.illinoisrailsafetyweek.org
Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances Receives New Platform
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced the launch of a statewide video campaign aimed at raising awareness for the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances.
In an effort to encourage individuals struggling with substance abuse to seek help, utilize their helpline and pursue recovery, IDHS announced the launch of a video campaign series on September 25. The videos will feature individuals who share stories of recovery and organizations from across the state who are providing treatment and recovery services for opioid and other substance use disorders.
According to IDHS, videos will be featured in TV spots, transit posters, social media advertisements, and billboard postings across major media markets in Illinois. Videos in the campaign will also be posted on the IDHS YouTube page.
The Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances number is 1-833-2FINDHELP and their website with further information can be found at HelplineIL.org.
World Heart Day
Promoting awareness about the causes and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), September 29 is recognized as World Heart Day.
According to the World Health Organization, CVD is the world’s leading cause of death. Despite most cardiovascular disease being preventable, CVD claims the lives of over 17 million people each year.
World Heart Day seeks to educate the public on CVD prevention and control by raising awareness and encouraging heart-healthy living. Some helpful tips to combat and prevent CDV include:
Being active
Eating a heart-healthy diet
Managing stress
Getting enough quality sleep
Changing your lifestyle
Not using tobacco
Maintaining a heart-healthy weight
More information on World Heart Day can be found at https://www.world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day.